Men's Basketball

K-State coach praises Kansas

With Kansas University's 97-70 victory Wednesday night, the Jayhawks pushed past Kansas State, taking over sole control of second place in the Big 12 conference.

But the game showed the Wildcats look up to the Jayhawks in more ways than the conference standings.

"They're bigger, they're faster, they're longer, they're better shooters," Kansas State coach Bob Huggins said. "They are very talented and very well coached. We've got to get to that point."

The disparity between the teams was most visible during the second half, when KU increased its 12-point lead to 27 on the merits of 60 percent shooting.

"We just came out flat," junior guard Blake Young said. "We didn't play with any energy."

The game began just as disastrously for the Wildcats, as the Jayhawks bolted to a 15-2 lead.

After nailing 14 three-point shots during a 73-72 victory against Texas, Kansas State shot 2-of-10 from long distance in the first half en route to a 4-for-22 performance.

"That wasn't by design," Huggins said.

Huggins, however, blamed the defense, which lacked the stifling pressure his Cincinnati teams earned a reputation for. KU connected from three-point range early, forcing Kansas State to abandon a zone for man-to-man defense.

The Jayhawks then effectively attacked the man with ball screens across the middle.

KU outrebounded Kansas State by 22. The Wildcats also played poor transition defense, allowing for 16 fast-break points.

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KU vs K-State

Senior guard Jermaine Maybank served as the bright spot for Kansas State. The 6-foot-4 backup led all scorers with 26 points, which surpassed his career high by 11.

"I tried to be the spark," Maybank said.

While Maybank provided support off the bench, 7-3 freshman center Jason Bennett made his ninth start.

He was reunited with KU's Sasha Kaun, against whom he played during high school basketball in Florida.

Bennett blocked three shots during his 11 minutes, but fouled out at the 7:20 mark of the second half.

Long after he fouled out, the KU student section regaled him with the taunt of "Bennett, Bennett!"

The freshman also heard it from Huggins on several occasions.

"Jason thought they jumped over his back," Huggins said. "I told him if he blocked out, they wouldn't. : Jason's got a lot to learn."

The 16,300 fans in Allen Fieldhouse taunted Bennett while providing the usual raucous environs. Huggins said that did not affect his team.

"I don't buy into that," he said. "They have a great atmosphere. It ought to be fun. We should've enjoyed it. We should've embraced it."

Bennett is going to supply the KU students with a lot more moments to boo in the next couple of years its looks like. He needs to quit crying about every call and play, he is a freshman for god sakes. Even the tv announcers called him out on it.

I imagine Bennett will enjoy the Phog about as much as Harrison did with Colorado. Amazing how many worthless, under-acheiving, cry baby centers have graced Big XII rosters (of course Chenowith gets a pass here).

The loss against A&M really hurt. This win really helps relieve some of that hurting feeling. I don't believe for one moment that A&M is a better team than KU. What a great group of guys. It was good to see Arthur and Sasha have a good game. Was it Jack Parr and Bob Boozer that played against Wilt and won against the Jayhawks back in the 50's? I think I still remember listening to that game?

Maybe we need to bring out crying towels for Bennett the next time he comes to town. I mean, EVERY single call??? Does he have a whole other rule book? When he whacked Russell coming down the lane, I thought, finally, he's going to nod his head. Nope. Didn't happen. waaaa waaa waaa...

- Hideous purple and black uniform?...check
- Trashy goatee?...check
- Whining about EVERY call and making an a** of
yourself in front of Kansas fans?..........

CHECK!! CONGRATULATIONS, JASON BENNETT, YOU ARE OFFICIALLY A K-SUCK PUSSYCAT! If your own coach doesn't get tired of your act and boot you from the team, you can look forward to THREE MORE YEARS of well-deserved heckling from anyone wearing crimson and blue. You sir, are a MORON, and should fit right in out there in Mancrappan.

I'd like to point out that Huggins did not once say any of the crazy stuff some people what Self to gush with after each of our 4 loses.

You didn't hear him say: "That lose was my fault...my players are giving it their all and it's time for me to admit that my system stinks...I'm a great recruiter, clearly, but a below average coach...I don't control the tempo and just take what other teams give me...we'd all be better off if Wooldridge was still running the show."